Christmas dinner donation to help most needy in Liverpool

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has donated £10,000 from his Hope Fund to help needy families enjoy Christmas dinner.

North, Central and South Liverpool foodbanks have each given out vouchers to families for fresh meat and vegetables across their centres.

The remainder of the money will be used towards the costs of transport, logistics and storage over the winter period, when the foodbanks are at their busiest.

Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Demand for foodbanks continues to grow in our city due to a combination of austerity and welfare reforms.

“Christmas Day is the one day of the year when no-one should go without a decent meal, and this funding will help give needy families some much-needed cheer this festive season.

“This is just one element of the support we are providing to those most in need in Liverpool over the festive season. It ranges from our new night shelter for rough sleepers – Labre House – through to Christmas parties for the elderly and isolated and the Mayoral Hardship Fund which makes crisis payments and has also given 174 young care leavers financial assistance towards fuel bills this winter.”

James Sloan, Chief Executive of Imagine If trust, which runs Central Liverpool Foodbank, said: “On behalf of the three foodbanks I’d like to thank the Mayor’s office for all their support. Together we will do all we can to ensure no one is left out this Christmas.”

All three of the city’s foodbanks will be referring people to a Christmas Day Meal that is taking place at the Frontline Centre in Wavertree, as well as other meals happening in Kensington and Speke.

The Mayor’s Hope Fund is an independent charity set up by Joe Anderson to help those living in poverty – more information can be found at www.themayorshopefund.org.uk